Definition

1. Noun:

   • A powerful circular current of water (usually the result of conflicting tides): A "whirlpool" is a strong, spinning movement of water in a river or the sea, often forming a funnel shape that can pull objects down into it.

2. Verb:

   • To flow in a circular current, of liquids: To move with a rapid, spinning or swirling motion, like water going down a drain.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The boat was caught in a dangerous whirlpool.
  • Swimmers were warned about the whirlpool near the rocky point.

• Verb:

  • The water began to whirlpool as it drained from the bathtub.
  • Leaves whirled and whirlpooled in the eddy of the stream.

Advanced Usage

• "to be sucked into a whirlpool": To be drawn into a chaotic or uncontrollable situation, often used metaphorically.

  • After the scandal, the company was sucked into a whirlpool of legal troubles.

• "a whirlpool of activity/emotion": A state of intense, confused, or rapidly changing activity or feelings.

  • The newsroom was a whirlpool of activity on election night.
  • She felt caught in a whirlpool of conflicting emotions.

Variants and Related Words

• Whirl (verb/noun): To spin or turn around rapidly; a rapid spinning movement.

  • The dancer began to whirl across the stage.

• Eddy (noun/verb): A circular movement of water, air, or smoke causing a small whirlpool or whirlwind; to move in such a circular way.

  • An eddy formed behind the rock in the river.

• Maelstrom (noun): A powerful whirlpool; often used metaphorically for a situation of great violence, confusion, or chaos.

  • The political debate descended into a maelstrom of accusations.

Synonyms

• Vortex: A mass of whirling fluid or air, like a whirlpool or whirlwind.
• Swirl: A twisting or spiraling movement.
• Charybdis: (From Greek mythology) A dangerous whirlpool personified as a sea monster; often used poetically or metaphorically for an inescapable destructive force.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

• Whirl around: To turn or spin around quickly.
  • She whirled around when she heard her name.

Related Idioms

• "Down the drain": Wasted or lost. While not containing "whirlpool," it relates to the vortex-like action of water draining, which is similar to a small whirlpool.
  • All our hard work went down the drain when the project was canceled.

Noun

1. a powerful circular current of water (usually the result of conflicting tides)

Verb

1. flow in a circular current, of liquids